Mary Louise Ekanger died of natural causes on July 4, 2016. She was born to Florence Shideler and Del Dearth at home in Big Piney, Wyoming, on April 19, 1924, and kept warm by the wood stove. “My God,” said her father, “that’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen.” But every visitor exclaimed she looked just like him. Mary’s mother’s family had two cattle ranches near Big Piney, and her father worked for the Forest Service. She had two younger sisters and a younger brother.
Mary was a real cowgirl: riding horses, working on her grandfather’s ranch, riding to school in a horse-drawn buggy or sled. She grew up with a pet coyote (named Cy) that her father brought home for her as tiny pup, eyes not even open, the only survivor among the dead mother and pups her father found in the forest.
After graduating high school in Kemmerer, Wyoming, Mary worked as a telephone operator (learning many startling new things about her community late at night). During World War II, she moved to Hill Field Air Base in Ogden, Utah, to drive 5 and 10 ton trucks full of coal, dirt, and Italian and German prisoners of war. It is here she met her husband, Ben Ekanger, who worked as an airplane inspector. They were happily married for nearly 60 years, moving first to Caldwell, Idaho, and then to Billings, Montana, during Ben’s career with Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment. They raised three children and have two grandsons. Ben died December 5, 2004.
Mary was always very active in her children’s school activities, in the Lutheran church, in sorority, in bridge and pinochle clubs, and as the consummate volunteer. She held many offices and received many awards for her generous service. She and Ben traveled extensively – to Norway, Germany, France, the Philippines, South Korea, China, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States and Canada. In March 2010, Mary moved from Billings to Hunters Pointe in Helena to take it easy and be near her daughter and son-in-law in Clancy. Beginning in 2014 she received wonderful care and friendships first at Son Heaven and most recently at Our House for which she and her family are sincerely grateful.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings May Dearth, Dee Dearth, and Ora Dearth Spraker, and her son-in-law Bill Shupe. She is survived by her children Laurie Ekanger, Randy Ekanger (Karola Roos), and Karin Ekanger (Jim Green) and her grandsons Ben Shupe and Robert Shupe. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
For Mary the cup was always half-full. She was kind and generous and found goodness in everyone — and, was a most extraordinary cook.
Memorials in Mary’s name may be sent to the McLaughlin Research Institute, 1520 23rd St. So., Great Falls, MT 59405 or another charity of choice.
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